Manual therapy is a type of physical treatment with a long history and a variety of contradictions. Some people truly believe in its effectiveness, and people cannot realize whether it is safe to rely on this practice. Though manual medicine does address certain local ailments, its outcomes on a psychological state of a patient remain to be under consideration. Manual therapy is usually defined as “the use of the hands in a curative and healing manner, or as the use of hands-on techniques with therapeutic intent” (Lederman, 2005, p.1). Manual therapy is characterized by a number of techniques based on manipulation or mobilization, and the evaluation of a particular case study should help to realize the peculiarities of the education, treatment claims, and scope of practice of a manual therapy practitioner.
Examples and Usage of Manual Therapy Techniques
Among a variety of manual therapy techniques, joint mobilization, spinal manipulation, chiropractic, and massage therapy are the most frequently used. For example, joint mobilization, as a passive movement of a skeleton joint, may be used to decrease pain or even increase a patient’s mobility by loosening up restricted joints (Hertling & Kessler, 2006). This technique helps a patient to move joints in ways he/she cannot move. A spinal diversified technique is high-velocity low-amplitude thrusting with certain chiropractic manual adjustments (Lederman, 2005). It is usually used to restore or even enhance joint function and reduce pain. People are usually in need of several techniques at the same time, and spinal mobilization is one of the most frequent techniques that is combined with the others and promotes effective treatment. Chiropractic is a combination of spine manipulations with health counseling. Massage therapy targets soft tissues, such as muscles, tendons, or ligaments, which have to be slid or glided properly. This technique helps to reduce pain and normalize the condition of the muscles.
Manual Therapy Practitioners: Education, Scope of Practice, and Treatment Claims
Different manual therapy practitioners may get their education at special universities. Students choose special four-year programs to study a theoretical basis first and gain certain practical skills then. However, nowadays, people are free to take special hands-on courses and get their certifications within a short period. Usually, the scope of practice for many manual therapy practitioners is not standardized, still, the characteristics of different practices lead to the development of several main scopes like general relaxation, health maintenance, pain relief, and stimulation of biological functions that lead to normalization of a human organism. Therapists have to be ready to choose the most appropriate treatment when they are addressed to help. Patients with neck pain may be treated with special manipulations or massage therapies to reduce pain at first and overcome possible challenges in the future. Pain back is another reason for people to address manual therapists. People usually cannot stand joint pain in different parts of their bodies and hope this type of therapist can help them without the use of special drugs.
Example of Successful Treatment with Manual Therapy
Chen and Chiu (2008) introduce a case study, where a 15-year-old girl suffered from right thoracic scoliosis for the last four years. Though several rehabilitation programs and treatments were offered, they were not helpful. The illness progressed. This patient was treated with spinal manipulation as a part of chiropractic manual therapy 2 times per week for about 2 months, and 1 time during the last 18 months. The results showed that the Cobb angle decreased by 16 degrees, and pain back was considerably reduced (Chen & Chiu, 2008). Still, it was necessary to continue the chosen therapy on a regular basis not to lose the achieved results. This is a peculiar feature of manual therapy.
References
Chen, K.C. & Chiu, E.H. (2008). Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis treated by spinal manipulation: A case study. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 14(6), 749-751.
Hertling, D. & Kessler, R.M. (2006). Management of common musculoskeletal disorders: Physical therapy principles and methods. Baltimore, MA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Lederman, E. (2005). The science and practice of manual therapy. London, UK: Elsevier Health Sciences.